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Ian's real trouble was not diminished when Alinor sent Joanna to wake him and help him dress instead of coming herself. The child told him gravely that his troop and squires had arrived, but that her mother had sent them to rest and she hoped he would be content with her poor services. Naturally, Ian found no fault with that arrangement. He was touched and amused by the serious was Joanna took her responsibilities. Wisely, he made not the slightest attempt to help herexcept for surreptitiously steadying the stool she climbed upon to pull his shirt over his head and lace it up. He raised his arms, lowered them, and turned as she directed with a completely solemn face. She hopped off to fetch his gown, hopped on againthat time Ian had to catch her to keep her from overbalancing with the unwieldy garment in her arms, but he bit his tongue and did not laugh. |
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It was a delightfully refreshing interlude. He had caught Joanna in his arms when she had finally fastened his belt, kissed her, squeezed her tight, and told her what a fine woman she was growing to be. If he had not also thought how kind and clever Alinor was to use Joanna to relieve the tension, he could almost have forgotten what lay before him. Fortunately, there was no immediate need for him to face the problem. Adam seized upon him the moment he came to the table, and whenever his mouth was not full of food, Ian was busy describing the siege of Montauban in the most minute detail. Joanna and Alinor were almost as eager listeners as Adam, so that dinner passed easily. |
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